Many neighborhood bodegas, which are a cultural staple in the Bronx, are under increasing financial strain and are struggling to stay open.The stores, which are

THE BRONX - Many neighborhood bodegas, which are a cultural staple in the Bronx, are under increasing financial strain and are struggling to stay open.

The stores, which are ubiquitous in the borough, often stay open late for customers in need of a late-night snack or gallon of milk. But with the city and state suffering through an economic downturn, many bodega owners say their business is suffering.

The bodega owners point to the high cost of produce and an increase in rent and utilities as sources of their problems. Consumers, especially those in low-income neighborhoods, are also being hit by the faltering economy, causing many to cut back on spending.